Apparatus and process for testing cigarettes or the like

ABSTRACT

FILTER CIGARETTES ARE TESTED ON A REVOLVING DRUM PROVIDED WITH A SET OF NOZZLES EACH OF WHICH IS CONNECTED WITH AN AIR COMPRESSOR DURING TRAVEL PAST A TESTING STATION. A FIRST PORTION OF THE STREAM WHICH ISSUES FROM A NOZZLE IS DEFLECTED BY THE ADJACENT END FACE OF THE CORRESPONDING CIGARETTE, AND THE REMAINING SECOND PORTION OF THE STREAM PASSES THROGH THE CIGARETTE. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEFLECTED FIRST PORTIION OF THE STREAM AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SECOND PORTION OF THE STREAM (AFTER IT HAS PASSED THROUGH THE FILLER OF THE CORRESPONDING CIGARETTE) ARE INDICATIVE OF THE CONDITION OF SUCH CIGARETTE. THESE PORTIONS OF EACH STREAM ARE EXAMINED BY A PNEUMATIC TESTING UNIT WHICH EFFECTS EJECTION OF DEFECTIVE CIGARETTES FROM THE DRUM.

2 sheets-Shen x U. HEITMANN APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES OR THE LIKE Feb. 23, 1971 Filed April 2, 1969 Feb. 23, 1971 u. HEITMANN 3,564,902Y

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES OR THE LIKE Filed April 2, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/ 8W/my /N VE N TOR of 4/5 Har/MMM ATTORNEY United Statesl Patent O APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES OR THE LIKE Uwe Heitmann, Hamburg, Germany, assignor to Hanni- Werke Korber & Co., KG., Hamburg, Germany Filed Apr. 2, 1969, Ser. No. 812,653 Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 4, 1968, P 17 57 142.5

Int. Cl. G01m 3/02; G01n 15/08 U.S. Cl. 73-37 26 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Filter cigarettes are tested on a revolving drum provided with a set of nozzles each of which is connected with an air compressor during travel past a testing station. A rst portion of the stream which issues from a nozzle is deflected by the adjacent end face of the corresponding cigarette, and the remaining second portion of the stream passes through the cigarette. The characteristics of the deflected lirst portion of the stream and the characteristics of the second portion of the stream (after it has passed through the filler of the corresponding cigarette) are indicative of the condition of such cigarette. These portions of each stream are examined by a pneumatic testing unit which effects ejection of defective cigarettes from the drum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for testing plain cigarettes, filter cigarettes, plain or filtertipped cigarillos, cheroots or cigars, sections of lter rods or analogous rod-shaped articles wherein an open-ended tubular wrapper of cigarette paper, tobacco leaf, reconstituted tobacco or the like surrounds an elongated airpermeable filler rod consisting of tobacco and/or granular, fibrous or other lter material.

Pat. No. 3,408,858 to Keading discloses a pneumatic apparatus wherein plain or filter cigarettes are tested by streams of air which enter at one end and leave at the other end of each of a series of successively delivered cigarettes. Such apparatus is quite effective; however, it is rather complicated because both ends of each cigarette must be sealed from the atmosphere during passage of testing air. The air is admitted in predetermined quantities and it is important for accurate testing to make sure that air cannot leak at either end of the wrapper while the corresponding article moves past the testing station. Problems arise if the cigarettes are not of identical length; even minor differences in the length of successively tested articles can cause substantial leakage of testing air which results in inaccurate measurements and ejection of satisfactory cigarettes or retention of defective cigarettes.

My copending application Ser. No. 755,050 discloses a modified testing apparatus wherein the ends of successively tested cigarettes need not be sealed during travel past the testing station. A portion of a stream of air which is directed against one end face of each of a succession of equidistant articles which move sideways is deflected by the end face and the characteristics (for example, the extent of deflection) of such portions of the air stream are indicative of the condition of articles in the region where the stream impinges thereagainst. The characteristics of deflected air are measured by a testing unit which effects automatic segregation of defective articles from satisfactory articles or vice versa. A drawback of the just described apparatus is that it does not detect all defects of tested articles.

SUMMARY oF THE INVENTION An object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved process for testing an entire cigarette or an analogous rod-shaped article in such a way that the articlel can be examined and its defect or defects detected without necessitating sealing of its ends in the course of the testing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process according to which each of a succession of cigarettes or like articles can be tested with the same degree of accuracy, within a short interval of time, and which can result in detection of all expected or normally occurring defects.

A further object of the invention is to provide a process which is especially suited for testing of filter cigarettes or other types of filter-tipped smoking products.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be utilized in the practice of the above outlined process and which can test a large number of cigarettes or like rod-shaped articles per unit of time.

An ancillary object of the invention is to provide a testing apparatus which can test the filler and/or wrapper of each of a series of successively delivered cigarettes or like articles, whose operation is fully automatic, which can test rod-shaped articles at the same rate at which they issue from a modern high-speed cigarette machine or filter cigarette machine, and which can automatically segregate defective articles from satisfactory articles or vice versa.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which need not be provided with any specially designed sealing means for the ends of test articles and which can test such articles gently so that their ends are neither deformed nor otherwise damaged and that such ends are not likely to lose tobacco particles during testing.

The process of my invention is employed for testing the integrity of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles wherein an open-ended tubular wrapper surrounds a gaspermeable ller. The process comprises the steps of directing a stream of gas (preferably compressed air) against one end face of an article so that a first portion of the stream is d eected by the end face and that the remaining second portion of the stream passes through the iiller toward and beyond the other end face of the article, and determining the characteristics of the second portion of the stream. Such characteristics are indicative of the condition of the article. For example, determination of the characteristics of the second portion of the stream (after such portion issues from the other end of the tested article) can indicate that the filler contains too little or too much tobacco and/ or filter material, that the wrapper has one or more holes, that the seam along which the edges of the wrapper are bonded to each other is open or leaky, and/or a combination of two or more such defects.

In accordance with a second feature of my invention, the process further comprises the step of determining the characteristics of the deflected iirst portion of the stream. The characteristics of such deflected iirst portion are indicative of the condition of the article in the region of the one end face. Thus, if the deflection of the first portion of the stream is very pronounced, this indicates that the end of the filler in the region of the one end face contains too little tobacco. An article which is defective, either in the region of the one end face or elsewhere, is preferably caused to leave the normal path along which it moves toward, past and beyond the testing station. Such ejection can be caused by pneumatic ejector means in response to signals produced upon determination of the characteristics of the two portions of the stream if the examination of such portions of the stream indicates that the article is defective.

At the present time, I prefer to direct the steam against one end face of each of a succession of equidistant articles which move sideways past a testing station. The arrangement is preferably such that the stream is directed against the one end face of an article for an interval of time whose length is a multiple of the time required to move and article by a distance equaling the distance between the axes of two successive articles. Determination of the characteristics of the first and second portions of the stream preferably takes up an interval of time whose length is substantially identical with that which is necessary to move an article by a distance corresponding to that between the axes of two successive articles.

In accordance with a further feature of my invention, the second portions of the first stream (i.e., those portions which form part of successive increments of a continuous stream and which have passed through the fillers of successive articles) are united into a continuous or substantially continuous stream which is thereupon exa-mined to determine its characteristics and hence the characteristics of the fillers and/or wrappers of corresponding articles. The deflected first portions of successive increments of the stream are preferably united into a second continuous stream which is thereupon examined to furnish indications concerning the condition of articles in the region of those end faces which deflect the first portions of successive increments of the stream.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved testing apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a testing conveyor in a testing apparatus which embodies the invention, the testing unit of the apparatus being shown schematically below the conveyor; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary developed sectional View of the conveyor as seen in the direction of arrows from the line II-II of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus of FIG. 1 is used for testing of filter cigarettes Z and comprises a conveyor here shown as a drum 1 which is rotatable about the axis of a horizontal shaft 2 and includes a reel-shaped body 3 with two end portions or flanges 4, 5. The distance between the flanges 4, 5 exceeds the length of a cigarette Z. The periphery of the central portion or core of the drum body 3 is provided with two annuli of radially outwardly extending projections 6, 7 each having an axially parallel flute. Each projection 6 registers with one of the projections 7 and their flutes serve to accommodate portions of filter cigarettes Z during travel toward, past and beyond the testing station. The drum body 3 consists of a number of identical portions, one for each pair of projections 6, 7, and one of these portions is shown in detail in the upper part of FIG. l. The projections 6, 7 are respectively formed with a radially inwardly extending suction ports 8, 9 twhich communicate with axially parallel suction channels 11 machined into the body 3. Each of these channels 11 extends to the right-hand end face 12 of the flange 5. Two ejector nozzles 13, 14 are inserted into the body 3 between each pair of registering projections 6, 7. The orifices 15, 16 of the ejector nozzles 13, 14 are closely adjacent to the wrapper of that cigarette Z which is accommodated in the flutes of the corresponding projections 6, 7. FIG. 1 shows clearly that the tips of ejector nozzles 13, 14 resemble cones which taper toward the cigarette Z, i.e., away from the axis of the drum 1. Thus, each of the orifices 15, 16 is surrounded by a pronounced annular ridge. The bodies 4 of the ejector nozzles 13, 14 are inserted into radial bores 117, 18 of the drum body 3 and the suction channels are formed in such a way that they bypass the bores 17, 18. The orifices 15, 16 of these ejector nozzles communicate with radial ducts 19, 21 which receive compressed gas from an axially parallel channel 22 in the drum body 3. Each channel 22 extends to the right-hand end face 12 of the flange 5 and each such channel is connected with the corresponding suction channel 11 by a radial hole accommodating a flow restrictor 23.

The flange 4 of the drum body 3 is provided with axially parallel passages or bores 24 each of which registers with the flutes of one pair of registering projections 6, 7. The diameter of each bore 24 is somewhat less than the diameter of a cigarette Z. These bores have smallerdiameter extensions 24a which terminate at the left-hand end face 25 of the flange 4. The other flange 5 is provided with axially parallel bores 2'6 each of which registers with one of the bores 24 and each of which has a diameter exceeding the diameter of a cigarette Z. Each bore 26 accommodates a gas discharging nozzle 27 which serves as a means for supplying compressed testing fluid (preferably air), and each of these nozzles 27 has a larger-diameter portion or base `which is snugly received in the right-hand portion of the corresponding bore 26. The left-hand portions of the nozzles 27 are of reduced diameter and each thereof has a conical tip which tapers in a direction toward the registering bore 24. The orifices of the testing nozzles 27 are shown at 28; each of these orifices is surrounded by a pronounced annular ridge. The spaces surrounding the left-hand portions of the nozzles 27 are denoted by numerals 29 and serve as intercepting chambers for testing fluid. Each intercepting chamber 29 is connected with a passage or bore 31 which extends to the end face 12. The latter abuts against the left-hand end face of a stationary fluid flow control member here shown as a valve plate 32. This valve plate 32 has an elongated arcuate groove 33 which is located at the testing station and communicates with the axial bores of several nozzles 27 (see also FIG. 2). The groove 33 receives compressed testing fluid by way of a supply conduit 34 which accommodates an adjustable regulating valve 34a and is connected to an air compressor 34b or another suitable source of compressed gaseous fluid. The valve plate 32 is further provided with a second groove 35 (see also FIG. 2) which receives air that it deflected into successive intercepting chambers 29 of the flange 5. The groove 35 communicates with successive bores 31 and with a conduit 36 which is connected to a first inlet 37 of a testing unit 38 shown in the lower part of FIG. l. The valve plate 32 is further provided with a third groove 39 which communicates with several suction channels 11 at a time, namely, with suction channels 11 which are located in the region between a receiving station where the flutes of projections 6, 7 receive cigarettes Z from a feeding conveyor (not shown) and a discharging station where the freshly tested satisfactory cigarettes Z leave the conveyor 1 and are taken over by a further conveyor, not shown. The groove 39 is interrupted for a short distance in the region where the first groove 33 begins. A conduit 41 connects the groove 39 with a fan, blower or another suitable suction generating device 41a. A fourth groove 42 of the valve plate 32 communicates with successive channels 22 and with a conduit 43 which connects it to an outlet 44 of the testing unit 38. The aforementioned groove 35 of the valve plate 32 is shielded from the grooves 33, 39 by bores 45, 46 which communicate with the atmosphere.

A second stationary fluid flow control member or valve plate 47 abuts against the end face 25 of .the left-hand flange 4. This valve plate 47 is form-ed with a groove 48 which communicates with successive bores 24 of the flange 4 and with a conduit 49 connecting it to a second inlet 51 of the testing unit 38.

The testing unit 38 includes pneumatic low-pressure fluidic elements which are available on the market and,

are manufactured, for example, by Corning Glass Works, of Corning, N.Y. (see the Corning Catalogv of 1967). This testing unit comprises two Schmitt triggers 52, 53 which constitute two discrete uid testing elements and are connected with an or-gate 54 and a flip-Hop 55. Each of the uidic elements 52, 53, 54, 55 has two inputs a, b, one or two inlets c for air, and two outputs d, e. A main feed conduit 56 connects the testing unit 38 with a source of air and is directly connected with the inlet c of the `ip-flop 55. The feed conduit 56 is connected with the inlets c of the Schmitt triggers 52, 53 and with the inlet c of the or-gate 54 by a flow restrictor 57. Still further, the feed conduit 56 is connected with the inputs b of the Schmitt triggers 52, 53 by throttle valves 58, 59. The input a of the Schmitt trigger 52 is connected with the inlet 51 (i.e., with the groove 48 of the valve plate 47). The input a of the other Schmitt trigger 53 is connected with the groove 35 of the valve plate 32 by way of the conduit 36 and inlet 37. The output e of the Schmitt trigger 52 is directly connected with the input a of the or-gate 54 and is further connected with the output d of the Schmitt trigger 53 Iby a ow restrictor 61. The output d of the or-gate 54 is connected with the input b of the ip-flop 55. The output d of the flip-op 55 is connected with the outlet 44 and hence with the groove 42 of the valve plate 32. The outputs d, e, e of the elements 52, 53, 55 discharge air into the atmosphere. The input b of the or-gate 54 is inactive.

FIG. 2 shows several cigarettes Z at the testing station, i.e., in the region where such cigarettes travel along the groove 33 of the valve plate 32. The character T indicates the distance between the centers of flutes in successive projections 6 or 7, namely, the distance between the axes of two successive cigarettes Z. The length of the grooves 35 and 48 equals T and these grooves are located opposite each other. The length of the groove 33 approximates 31/2T. The front end of the groove 33 (as considered in the direction in which the conveyor 1 rotates) is spaced from the front end of the groove 35 or 48 (as considered in circumferential direction of the conveyor 1) by a distance exceeding 2T.

The operation:

Cigarettes Z are delivered into the fiutes of successive pairs of registering projections 46, 7 at a station located ahead of the groove 33 in the valve plate 32. Such cigarettes are held by suction which is effective in ports 8, 9, channels 11 and groove 39 of the valve plate 32. The groove 39 is evacuated by way of the conduit 41. As the conveyor 1 rotates, it moves successive testing nozzles 27 into registry with the groove 33 whereby the orifices 28 discharge successive increments of a continuous stream of testing fluid against the adjoining end faces of successive cigarettes Z. As mentioned above, the groove 39 is interrupted at the front end of the groove 33 so that streams of fluid issuing from the orifices 28 are free to shift the cigarettes Z axially into abutment with the ange 4 whereby the left-hand ends of the cigarette overlie the open ends of the bores 24. In this way, there develops a clearance or gap between the right-hand end face of an axially displaced cigarette Z and the orifice 28 of the corresponding nozzle 27. A portion of the air stream issuing from an orifice 28 enters the ller TF of the corresponding cigarette Z and flows through the filler and into the corresponding bore 24. Some of the air which enters a filler escapes by way of pores in the wrapper W of the cigarette. The wrappers normally consist of porous cigarette paper. The ilow of air through the pores is indicated in FIG. 2 by small arrows 70. A heavier arrow 71 indicates the outflow of air by way of a hole or slit in the wrapper W of the median cigarette Z shown in FIG. 2.

The deflection of the remaining portion of an air stream which issues from the orifice 28 of a nozzle 27 depends on the characteristics of the adjoining right-hand end portion of the corresponding cigarette Z. If the right-hand end portion is loosely packed, i.e., if tobacco particles are missing in the right-hand end of the filler TF of a cigarette moving past the groove 33, the deection of air which does not enter the filler of the cigarette is more pronounced; thus, more air ows into the intercepting chamber 29 and bore 31. As a cigarette Z continues to travel along the groove 33, its left-hand end and the corresponding bore 24 move into registry with the groove 48 of the valve plate 47. At the same time, the corresponding bore 31 of the flange 4 moves into registry with the groove 35. Thus, while the cigarette Z covers a distance T, its left-hand end communicates with the passage including the groove 48 while the corresponding bore 31 communicates with the groove 35. Consequently, the inlet 51 of the unit 38 admits air to the input a of the testing element S2 and the inlet 37 admits air to the input a of the testing element 53.

If the right-hand end portion of the tested cigarette Z is too soft (i.e., if the right-hand end of the ller TF in such cigarette does not contain enough tobacco), the cigarette effects greater defiection of air which is discharged by the corresponding orifice 28 so that the pressure in the corresponding intercepting chamber 29 rises to a value which is indicative of a defective cigarette. If the wrapper W of the cigarette has a hole 71 or if the seam of the wrapper is open, at least some of the air which has entered the right-hand end of such cigarette is free to escape so that the quantity of air flowing through the corresponding bore 24 is less than a quantity which is indicative of a satisfactory cigarette. Thus, the pressure of air in the bore 24 is low. If the 4pressure in the bore 24 and in the input a of the Schmitt trigger 52 is below a predetermined minimum pressure (which is selected by appropriate setting of the throttle valve 58), the output e of the Schmitt trigger 52 emits a pneumatic signal which is transmitted to the input a of the or-gate S4. If the pressure in the intercepting chamber '29 and the input a of the Schmitt trigger 53- exceeds a predetermined value (selected by the setting of throttle valve 59), the output d of the Schmitt trigger 53 emits a pneumatic signal which is transmitted to the input a of the or-gate 54. However, the flow restrictor 61 weakens this signal to such an extent that its intensity equals the intensity of signal emitted by the output e of the Schmitt trigger 52. The output e of the or-gate 54 emits a pneumatic signal for as long as its input a receives a signal, and the output signal of the or-gate 54 causes the flip-Hop 55 to emit a signal at d whereby such signal effects ejection of the defective cigarette Z by way of the outlet 44, conduit 43, groove 42, corresponding channel 22 and ducts 19, 21, and corresponding ejector nozzles 13, 14. The groove 42 is in radial alignment with the groove 35, i.e., a defective cigarette Z is ejected from the conveyor 1 during travel past the testing station.

If the input a of the or-gate 54 does not receive a signal, its output d emits a pneumatic signal -whieh causes the ip-op 55 to discharge compressed uid at the out-put e so that the groove 42 does not receive compressed uid and the tested cigarette can continue to travel with the conveyor 1 all the way to the aforementioned station where satisfactory cigarettes are removed from the flutes of the respective projections 6 and 7.

A next-following bore 24 moves into registry with the groove 48 as soon as the preceding bore 24 moves -beyond such groove. Consequently, the streams discharged by successive bores 24 form a continuous stream which is transmitted to the testing unit 38 by way of the conduit 49 land inlet 51. The same holds true for air streams which issue from successive intercepting chambers '29 i.e., such streams form a continuous stream which enters the testing unit 38 by way of conduit 36 and inlet 37.

It was found that the improved apparatus is particularly suited for testing of filter cigarettes ibecause each such cigarette has a tobacco filler with a single exposed end. Therefore, it suffices if each cigarette is tested only once,

namely, while its 'filter tip F travels along the valve plate 47 and while the exposed end of its tobacco filler TF travels along the valve plate 32K.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A process for testing the integrity of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles wherein an open-ended tubular wrapper surrounds a gas-permeable filler, comprising the steps of directing a stream of gas against one end face of an article so that a first portion of the stream is deflected by such end face and a second portion of the stream passes through the filler toward the other end face of the article, the characteristics of the first portion of said stream being indicative of a first condition and the characteristics of the second portion of said stream being indicative of a second condition of the article; and determining the characteristics of the first and second portions of said stream.

2. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the defiected first portion of said stream are indicative of the condition of the article in the region of said one end face thereof.

3. A process as defined in claim 2, wherein said stream is a stream of compressed air which is directed against one end face of each of a succession of equidistant articles which move sideways.

4. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said stream is directed against one end face of each of a succession of equidistant articles which move sideways.

5. A process as defined in claim 4, wherein said stream is directed against the one end face of each article for an interval which at least equals the period of time required to move an article by a distance corresponding to that between the axes of two successive articles.

6. A process as defined in claim 5, wherein the length of each of said intervals is a multiple of the time required to move an article by a distance corresponding to that between the axes of two successive articles.

7. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the defiected first portion of said stream are indicative of the condition of the tested article in -the region of said one end face thereof and are determined independently of the characteristics of the second portion of said stream.

8. A process as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of moving the article sideways along a predetermined path prior to and during deflection of the first portion of said stream, and removing the article from said path when the characteristics of said second portion of the stream are indicative of a defective article.

9. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said stream is directed against one end face of each of a succession of equidistant articles which move sideways so that a first portion of each of a series of successive increments of said stream is deflected by the one end face of successive articles and that a second portion of each such increment passes through and beyond the other end face of the respective article, said step of determining the characteristics of the second portion of said stream comprising uniting successive second portions of said increments into a continuous stream and determining the characteristics of said continuous stream.

10. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein said stream is directed against one end face of each of a succession of equidistant articles which move sideways so -that a first portion of each of a series of successive increments of the stream is deflected by the one end face of successive articles and that a second portion of each such increment passes through the respective article, and further comprising the step of uniting the deflected first portions of successive increments into a continuous stream prior to determination of the characteristics of said first portions, the characteristics of said first portions being indicative of the condition of articles in the region of said one end face thereof.

11. Apparatus for testing the integrity of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles wherein an open-ended tubular wrapper surrounds a gas-permeable filler, comprising gas discharging means arranged to discharge a stream of gaseous testing fluid; means for locating an article in such a way that one end face of the thus located article extends across the path of said stream and is spaced from said discharging means whereby a first portion of the stream is deflected by said one end face and a second portion of the stream passes through the filler of said,

article, the characteristics of the first portion of said stream being indicative of a first condition and the characteristics of the second portion of said stream being indicative of a second condition of the article; and testing means for determining the characteristics of the first and second portions of said stream.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a source of compressed gaseous testing fluid for supplying such fluid to said discharging means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said locating means comprises a portion defining a passage arranged to connect the other end face of said located article with said testing means so that the second portion of said stream is conveyed to the testing means by way of said passage.

14. Apparatus as defined in `claim 11, wherein said locating means comprises a portion which defines an intercepting chamber for the defiected first portion of said stream, the characteristics of the deflected first portion being indicative of the condition of the article in the region of said one end face thereof.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said intercepting chamber surrounds said discharging means.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said locating means comprises a conveyor arranged to advance a succession of articles to be tested sideways, said discharging means comprising a plurality of nozzles each aligned with one end face of an article on said conveyor.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said conveyor is a rotary conveyor and comprises axially parallel flutes for moving the articles sideways past a testing station where the respective nozzles discharge fluid streams.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said conveyor defines a plurality of intercepting chambers for the defiected first portions of streams issuing from the nozzles moving past said station, said conveyor having passages for connecting said intercepting chambers with said testing means, the characteristics of deflected first portions of said streams being indicative of the condition of the respective articles in the region of said one end face thereof.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said testing means comprises discrete first and second testing elements for determining the characteristics of said first and second portions of the streams issuing from said nozzles.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said conveyor is a drum having two axially spaced anges one of which supports said nozzles and defines said intercepting chambers and the other of which is provided with the passages connecting the second end faces of tested articles with the second element of said testing means.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said last mentioned passages are bores provided in said other fiange.

10 22. Apparatus as dened in claim 21, wherein the 26. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said diameter of each of said bores is less than the diameter testing means comprises low-pressure fluidic elements. of an article.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said References Cited conveyor is provided with ejector means arranged to eject defective articles in response to signals from said D UNITED STATES PATENTS testing means. 3,339,402 9/1967 Rudszinat 73-41 24. Apparatus as dened in clalm 23, wherein said 3,395,570 8/1968 Kochalski 73-45.2

conveyor is a drum and said ejector means includes 3,426,582 2/1969 McArthur et al, 73-45,1

nozzles extending substantially radially of said drum. 10

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said LOUIS RIPRINCEPIimary Examiner conveyor is provided with ejector means arranged to eject defective articles from the respective flutes in re- W- A- HENRY H, ASSS'CaHt EXamiIlef sponse to signals from said testing means, said testing means having first and second testing elements for respec- 15 U.S. C1. X.R.

tively determining the characteristics of iirst and second 73-38, 45.1 portions of streams issuing from said nozzles. 

